Topic: App Store

A pair of interesting new releases hit Apple's App Store the day after Christmas, as GenArts's Vivoom app lets users add more than 100 different effects to video clips before sharing them on social networks, while Mindly helps to create mind maps with a slick user interface.

The sequel to blockbuster physics-based puzzle game Cut the Rope made its way to the App Store Thursday, while the award-winning third installment of the Infinity Blade franchise received a hefty update including new locations and new game modes.

Classic 1990s adventure game Tomb Raider has made its way to iOS devices, featuring controller support and 15 hours of gameplay, while Angry Birds Star Wars adds additional levels and a new boss fight.

Apple's App Store remains hugely profitable for developers even as they transition en masse to "freemium" business models, with top apps bringing $90,000 in average revenue each day, new data indicates.

Eleven days earlier than expected, Apple on Sunday gave away the first freebie as part of its "12 Days of Gifts" app promotion, which will offer almost two weeks' worth of free apps, songs and other digital content to users over the holiday season.

Web page saving, syncing and reading app Instapaper is free for limited time after being named "App of the Week," while popular note creation and syncing app Evernote gets updated with business card scanning, presentation mode and UI tweaks.

Social networking heavyweight Instagram on Thursday added a new direct messaging feature designed to counter the popularity of upstart competitor Snapchat, while gesture-based keyboard Fleksy can now be integrated into third-party apps thanks to a new SDK.

Creative social networking site Pinterest unveiled a redesigned version of their iPad app Wednesday, while Valve Software gave Steam Mobile a new look-and-feel and Rockstar Games' iOS port of GTA: San Andreas hit the App Store.

Streaming music service Spotify announced on Wednesday that iPhone and iPad users can now access its content without having to pay for a subscription, though there are restrictions on how music can be played from a mobile device.